Page 9 of Justified Fear

“First, tell me about how you were hired.”

She drew in a deep breath and reached down to pet Maya.The rescue dog had yet to leave her side.Her partner, Ryan the hottie, was standing behind her.

“I was hired through my website.I also think they know my Aunty Lulu.She knows I’m trying to get started here, and Mr.Kelly needed a chef for the night.I know he has a cook, but he wanted something special, I think.”

“Was it just you in the kitchen?”

“Yes.Wait, are you talking about servers?”He nodded.“Well, Yazmin was the server.She was their usual housekeeper, from what I understand.Then they had A Plus Spirits handle the alcohol.Ray was the bartender.”

“You didn’t handle that?”

She shook her head.“I don’t have a liquor license.I also don’t know how to make all the drinks.It is too much, with handling the meal.”

“Tell me about the guests.”

“There were four guests other than the Kellys.They were all men and looked to be in their forties.”

“Was there any kind of problems?Arguments of any kind?”

“Not that I noticed.I talked to the Kellys—they wanted me to meet the guests.People like to show off their chefs at something like that.Then I went outside because Mr.Kelly kept the windows shut.Standing in front of that stove for two hours…I was ready to pass out.”

“Is that why you dropped your chef jacket?”

She sighed.“It was hot, but I was worried it would be easy for the guys to find me with it on.”

“I should have kept it.I heard the guys traipsing around, but they never got close to me.Also, it was cold out there later on, and I have scratches everywhere.”

“Keely, did you see any of the men?”

“The ones with guns?”

He nodded.

“No, sorry.I was standing out here when I heard the shouting.I thought it odd because it had been a pleasant night.Being a private chef can sometimes be uncomfortable.People forget you’re there and say things you don’t want to hear.”She rolled her eyes.“I had one woman ask her husband for a divorce while I was standing there.Like, who does that?”

“Is there a reason you didn’t just run out front?”

She frowned.“Not sure, other than I didn’t know if they had anyone out there.I assumed they came in that way since I was standing in the back and didn’t see anyone.I dropped down on the ground, crawled, and called 911.Then I heard they were looking for me, so I ran.”

There was a long beat of silence, and she looked around at the circle surrounding her.They were all sharing looks.Another chill skated down her spine, which was weird considering how hot it was.

She looked at Ryan the Hottie.“What?”

“Did they say your name specifically?”

She closed her eyes and thought back to the moment right before she ran.

“Keely?”

She opened her eyes.“No.They just knew a chef had been hired for the night.I heard them say they were looking for the chef.”

Detective Carino nodded.

“Can you tell me what happened to everyone else?”

Even before the detective told her, she knew.

“They’re all gone.”